String instrument with sound amplification

Abstract

A musical string instrument (1) having a resonator (3) including a belly (5) and a back (7) connected by a side (9) and provided with a sound hole (17) to resonate vibrations induced in a string (13) strung over at least part of the resonator (3). Within the resonator (3) there is mounted a plate member (19) in a downwardly inclination disposition relative to the belly (5) to divide the interior of the resonator (3) into at least two chambers (21, 23) connected to each other in a region forwardly of a free edge of the plate member (19) to form a sound bell of a width continually increasing towards the sound hole (17) for amplifying low frequency tones and improving bass resonance of the vibrations of the string (13) in the resonator (3).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A musical string instrument, comprising: means defining a resonator comprising belly means and back means connected by side means and provided with at least one sound hole;   means for supporting at least one string adapted to be vibrated;   means for transmitting vibrations induced in said string to said resonator; and   amplifier means comprising a single substantially planar member mounted in said resonator to extend at a downward inclination relative to said belly means to divide said resonator into two chambers and having a substantially free edge for forming connecting passage means between said two chambers.   
     
     
       2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said planar means is of a length, measured between its free edge and an edge opposite therefrom, of about twelve frets (one octave). 
     
     
       3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said lateral edges of said planar means extending from the free edge thereof are connected to said side means in intimate engagement therewith. 
     
     
       4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said planar means is mounted in said resonator by attachment of its edge opposite its said free edge to said side means. 
     
     
       5. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said planar means is mounted in said resonator by attachment of its edge opposite its said free edge to said belly means. 
     
     
       6. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said resonator is further provided With transverse brace means attached to said belly means and wherein said planar means is attached to said transverse brace means. 
     
     
       7. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said side means is provided with lining means and wherein said lateral edges of said planar means are supported by said lining means. 
     
     
       8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said planar means comprises a laminate of at least two wooden layers. 
     
     
       9. The instrument of claim 8, wherein said wooden layers have a grain structure of predetermined direction and wherein said layers are adhesively laminated with the direction of their respective grain structures intersecting at an angle of between 10° and 20°. 
     
     
       10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said sound hole is provided in said side means. 
     
     
       11. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said sound hole is provided in said belly means. 
     
     
       12. The instrument of claim 11, comprising a second sound hole in said side means. 
     
     
       13. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising neck means connected to said resonator and having fingerboard means extending over a portion of said belly means, wherein one sound hole each is provided in said belly means on opposite sides of said fingerboard means. 
     
     
       14. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising block means including upper and lower block means mounted in said resonator and wherein at least one sound hole is provided adjacent at least one of said upper and lower block means. 
     
     
       15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein at least one sound hole is provided on opposite sides of at least one of said upper and lower block means. 
     
     
       16. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said sound hole is covered by sound pervious cover means. 
     
     
       17. The instrument of claim 13, wherein said planar means comprises further edge means opposite its said free edge, said further edge means being positioned in said resonator adjacent said neck means. 
     
     
       18. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting vibrations comprises bridge means in contact with said belly means and said string means. 
     
     
       19. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least two chamber means forms folded-over bell means of a width increasing in the direction away from the mounting of said planar means and wrapping around said free edge of said planar means. 
     
     
       20. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said vibrations are induced in said string means by the plucking thereof. 
     
     
       21. A musical string instrument, comprising: means defining a resonator comprising belly means and back means connected by side means and provided with at least one sound hole;   means for supporting at least one string adapted to be vibrated;   means for transmitting vibrations induced in said string to said resonator; and   amplifier means comprising a single substantially rigid planar member mounted in said resonator to extend in a downward inclination relative to said belly means to divide said resonator into two interconnected chambers and having a substantially free edge for forming connecting passage means between said two chambers, said planar means being adapted substantially to withstand vibrating.